By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Salvation Army Red Kettle drive is nearing its end and, with just five days left, donations are down.
Major Ronald Key with the St. Joseph Salvation Army says as of last week, donations were 60 percent to 70 percent toward the goal of raising $358,000.
Key says there are a couple different ways people can help reach that goal, whether it be donating additional funds, or even just their time.
"They could also volunteer to ring a bell the last week, that's another way they can help us to raise the funds that we need," Key tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So, there's lots of different ways they could do that for us."
Key says if they are not able to reach the goal, there are a couple of different things that could happen with the money that has been raised.
"Either we help the same amount of people with less money or we help less people with the money that we have, so it just kind of depends on that," Key says. "So, we would like to help at least the same amount of people, if not more, but if we don't reach that kettle goal that would be accomplished there would just be less, we could help them with."
Money collected during the drive support Salvation Army projects in St. Joseph.
While donations are lagging during this year’s Red Kettle Drive, the number of volunteers has increased.
Key had hoped that following the coronavirus pandemic, volunteers would begin coming out again this year. And so far, Key says the number of volunteers has been very good.
"We have our normal volunteers that have always donated, we've got some new volunteers, but we could always use more there are still places that have empty doors that no one stands at," Key explains. "So, there's that opportunity and as a volunteer you can volunteer to work wherever you want inside, outside, whatever that looks like for you, so you get that first choice."
Key says volunteering is one way people can help reach the fundraising goal. The Red Kettle Drive ends on Christmas Eve Saturday.